New Book Releases: January 2016

Contributor: Allie

The Restaurant Critic’s Wife by Elizabeth LaBan – January 5, 2016. Lila Soto is a stay-at-home mom who’s questioning the choices she’s made in her life. Lila has a master’s degree in hotel management, and at one time had a flouring career. But like many women, she gave it all up for marriage and motherhood. Her husband, a restaurant critic, has relocated the family to Philadelphia for his job. Lila contemplates having another baby, but also longs to go back to work. When her husband becomes obsessed with keeping his identity a secret (for professional reasons), his need for anonymity affects the family’s life. Lila questions her own identity and whether or not she wants to be the wife of a man who demands so much.

Stars Over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner – January 5, 2016. Christine McAllister owns a vintage clothing boutique in Los Angeles. One day an iconic hat that was worn by Scarlet O’Hara herself (in Gone with the Wind) shows up in her shop. Christine realizes it’s significance and is determined to get the hat back to the rightful owner – whoever that may be. In 1938, two young women, Audrey and Violet, become friends on the set of Gone With the Wind. Each woman is determined to get her happy ending – no matter what the cost. One night, after cocktails on the set, the green hat goes missing. The mystery of what happened to it casts a shadow over the lives of both women. Once again, Meissner creates a compelling story of love and friendship interwoven with the past and present – a beguiling mystery that could only happen in Hollywood.

The Road Back by Di Moressey – January 12, 2016. Chris Baxter is a journalist who loves his job – even more so when he’s granted the opportunity of a lifetime with a full-time post in Thailand. The timing, however, isn’t right. His teenage daughter, Megan, is struggling and still reeling from her parents’ divorce. Her mother’s remarriage is the final blow, and Chris realizes he can’t leave his daughter. He decides to stay in Australia and returns home to the village of Neverend. After much cajoling from Megan, he brings her with him and together they try to find the road back to happiness.

The Forgotten Room by Karen White, Beatriz Williams, and Lauren Willig – January 19, 2016. This is a very interesting novel, written by three different writers and set in alternating time periods. In 1945, a critically wounded soldier is treated in a private hospital in Manhattan. Dr. Kate Schuyler is caring for the soldier, Cooper, when she notices a portrait in the hospital room of a woman who looks eerily similar to her. Also, the woman in the portrait is wearing a necklace that was given to Kate by her mother. Kate’s determined to discover if there’s a connection. Her journey leads her to stories of the Gilded Age and a woman from the Jazz Age who may hold the secrets of the forgotten room.

The Someday Jar by Allison Morgan – January 26, 2016. Lanie Howard is a successful woman about town, who seemingly has it all. After she discovers a jar filled with fortunes from a Chinese restaurant, she remembers that her life used to be a lot more fun. Written on the back of each of the saved fortunes are Lanie’s wishes from when she was a young girl. After a near-death experience, Lanie decides it’s time to make some of her childhood wishes come true!

Going For Two – Laura Chapman – January 27, 2016. Harper Duquaine is back for another season of fantasy football! This time she’s a year wiser and prepared to dominate the league. But while she finally seems to have her fantasy life in order, reality proves more challenging.